On July 31, the Academy of Sciences of Moldova hosted a grand celebration dedicated to one of the most prominent figures in local science—academician Ion BOSTAN. Through his inventions and discoveries, he has gained recognition and applause across all continents.
Academician Ion TIGHINEANU, president of the Academy of Sciences, expressed his deep honor in celebrating academician Ion BOSTAN on this special occasion. He highlighted their long-standing collaboration at the Technical University of Moldova (UTM) and emphasized BOSTAN’s significant contributions in transforming UTM into a true temple of science, advancing research of national and international importance. As a token of recognition, academician Ion BOSTAN received the “Excellence in Research” plaque from the Academy of Sciences, symbolizing appreciation for his promotion of science and engineering development.
A poignant moment of the ceremony was the speech by the current rector of UTM, Prof. and Dr. habil. Viorel BOSTAN, who spoke as a rector, as a disciple, and as a son. His talk, full of gratitude and admiration, reflected the profound life lessons and professionalism he learned from his father:
“I am extraordinarily proud to lead the Technical University of Moldova today, which stands on a solid foundation built with great dedication by my predecessors, especially academician Ion BOSTAN. Today, all the successes of the University are largely due to the foundation laid with much dedication by academician Ion BOSTAN immediately after the declaration of the Independence of the Republic of Moldova. Besides leaving us an extraordinary university, he also achieved another remarkable feat—creating a true scientific school, with many of his disciples now being habilitated doctors, professors, lecturers, doctors, and doctoral students. The direction he leads is notable not only to colleagues in Moldova but also abroad. Academician BOSTAN has given me numerous life lessons for which I am grateful. From him, I learned many important things. First, to be a good person. Second, to never stop where I am but to keep moving forward. He also taught me that the most important thing I will leave behind over the years is my name and reputation, which cannot be gained for free but through hard work, dedication, effort, and a desire to do beautiful things.
Academician BOSTAN has always dreamed big, and I am delighted that he not only dreamed but also turned those dreams into reality. A few years ago, UTM achieved a significant success—the launch of the ‘Republic of Moldova’ satellite. Years ago, in private discussions, he told me that UTM could launch a satellite for the Republic of Moldova. I admit, I was very skeptical at that time. But he succeeded, and that success was due to his dream and the effort he put into establishing the National Center for Space Technologies at UTM, creating the infrastructure and a formidable team that managed to place the satellite in orbit.
Academician BOSTAN has always cared for people—another life lesson among the many he taught me over the years. Considering myself among those whose destiny he significantly influenced, I want to express my gratitude. I thank him for the precious 20-25 minutes I had each morning when I went to school—those rare moments when I could be with him. I had to keep up and run after him as he was always in a hurry, with many tasks. I thank him elegantly for delegating my education to my mother due to his heavy workload. I also want to thank him for accepting and not intervening much or at all in my decisions, even though he often disagreed with them. He tried to guide me skillfully, suggesting that mathematics and science are very important—this has been extraordinary for me and has served as a model. I am convinced that among his many achievements, one of them is me… Academician BOSTAN, thank you very much for everything. I wish you first and foremost health, and that you grant us the privilege, at the right moment, of realizing a great dream of my family: to hear you speak just as proudly about Matei BOSTAN as a student and disciple. Thank you!”
Rector Viorel BOSTAN then read several congratulatory messages addressed to the honoree from esteemed friends of UTM—Mihnea COSTOIU, rector of the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest; Mihai MIHĂIȚĂ, president of the General Association of Engineers in Romania (AGIR); Ioan Vasile ABRUDAN, rector of the TRANSILVANIA University of Brașov, who is also president of the Strategic Institutional Development Council of UTM. Rector Viorel BOSTAN also presented the celebrant with the Technical University of Moldova plaque, as a sign of deep appreciation for his contribution to UTM’s prominence and success.
After several minutes of applause, the celebrated academician was invited to the podium. With a modest shrug and eyes sparkling with happiness, he glanced around the hall, his expression revealing that the previous speech held more value to him than all the accolades he had amassed over the years. This humility and generosity are precisely what we admire most about this great man. His speech was not a list of his many well-deserved merits and distinctions but a heartfelt recounting of memories and emotions.
For him, engineering is a life purpose, and he has always strived to innovate in this field. He obtained his first invention patent in 1983, with priority from 1981, titled “Precessional Transmission.” In 1989, he defended his habilitation thesis at the “N. Bauman” Technical University in Moscow, titled “Creation of Precessional Transmissions.” At that time, the Doctoral Council of the “N. Bauman” Technical University in Moscow recognized the foundation of the scientific school in Chișinău, and a year later, “Precessional Transmissions” were included as a mandatory subject in the curricula of all union engineering educational institutions. This pioneering invention has since found applications in many mechanical aggregates developed at UTM, including wind turbines and mini-hydroelectric plants. Thirty years later, the first two volumes of the monograph “Precessional Transmissions” were published.
Thus, the invention that marked his scientific career finds a new approach today—precessional, as a natural continuation of developing a high scientific value product, based on new theoretical approaches, new constructive-functional, and technological concepts, which, we proudly say, belong to Moldovan engineering.
Constantly promoting innovation in engineering, he, along with a team from UTM and international scientists, developed an original concept of the Foucault Pendulum—a gravitational clock with interactive kinematics. This ingenious device allows for the precise recording of the Earth’s rotational movement and the geographical position of Moldova in a fixed astronomical coordinate system. Located in the central building of UTM, the Pendulum is considered a business card of UTM.
The idea of creating the National Center for Space Technologies at UTM is also attributed to his visionary leadership. Under his guidance, the center undertook extensive activities that ultimately led to the development and successful launch of the Republic of Moldova’s first satellite, earning worldwide acclaim.
When asked what his life’s greatest achievement is, academician Ion BOSTAN answers without hesitation: “It is the affirmation over time of the Technical University of Moldova!” And rightly so. For 23 years, he led this educational and scientific powerhouse, tripling its number of students and specialties. Under his leadership, this unique engineering institution became the largest and most prominent university in the national educational system. This stands as proof that both the scientist and the man, Ion BOSTAN, have succeeded in imparting a profound and lasting impact on his life’s work.
Happy Birthday, professor Ion BOSTAN!
